OCZ 8500 Low-Voltage Blade

[vazel]

Sounds like a stupid spec to me - all my Micron D9 kits have died below 2.2v, one of them at only 2.15v with active cooling. In any case, these LV modules don't comply with the JEDEC standard because they use low voltage ICs.

Haha well it's not stupid since JEDEC is the one that sets down the rules for RAM. Your micron didn't die from the volts if it died only at 2.1v. You're right in that OCZ Blade RAM doesn't comply with JEDEC standards but not because of voltages. Any ddr2 speed beyond 800mhz is not standardized. I'm confident the ram could've kept running at that voltage but I put it down to 1.8v to test with the other PSU.

Edit: And actually the maximum ddr2 should handle is 2.3v I just checked. Says it should remain stable up to 1.9v but still be able to handle up to 2.3v without permanent damage. It's just like how CPUs have maximum allowed voltages, I think 45nm Intels are at 1.36v maximum.

[BeepBeep2]

vazel, though it's specced you know it's not always true.

Alot of GKX and GMH kits died out at just 2.2v after not-so-much time...


This LV Blade / LV Platinum is 40nm Elpida stuff, it can't take much more than 1.9v...it's basically low-speed DDR3 on a DDR2 stick imo.

I'd say with voltage it's about as tolerant as D9JNL DDR3.

[Don_Dan]

Got a 4GB kit of the 8500 LV Plats on the way from Amazon. Bought for $98 on Sunday a day before they shot up $10.

Have fun with your kit!

Haha well it's not stupid since JEDEC is the one that sets down the rules for RAM. Your micron didn't die from the volts if it died only at 2.1v. You're right in that OCZ Blade RAM doesn't comply with JEDEC standards but not because of voltages. Any ddr2 speed beyond 800mhz is not standardized. I'm confident the ram could've kept running at that voltage but I put it down to 1.8v to test with the other PSU.

Edit: And actually the maximum ddr2 should handle is 2.3v I just checked. Says it should remain stable up to 1.9v but still be able to handle up to 2.3v without permanent damage. It's just like how CPUs have maximum allowed voltages, I think 45nm Intels are at 1.36v maximum.

RAM manufacturers did never care a lot about JEDEC specs, there were sticks featuring D9GMH/GKX that were rated for 2.5V, though it was never specced by JEDEC. These LV Blades will degrade very fast at more than 2.0V, they already get warm at 1.9V. This is not your typical DDR2 memory, forget about JEDEC. Please understand, I don't want to sound rude, but what you're doing is very dangerous for your memory.

And by the way, DDR2-1066 IS standardized.

[BeepBeep2]

Have fun with your kit!



RAM manufacturers did never care a lot about JEDEC specs, there were sticks featuring D9GMH/GKX that were rated for 2.5V, though it was never specced by JEDEC. These LV Blades will degrade very fast at more than 2.0V, they already get warm at 1.9V. This is not your typical DDR2 memory, forget about JEDEC. Please understand, I don't want to sound rude, but what you're doing is very dangerous for your memory.

And by the way, DDR2-1066 IS standardized.

Isn't OCZ a prominent member of JEDEC?

[Don_Dan]

Isn't OCZ a prominent member of JEDEC?

Many RAM manufacturers are a member of JEDEC, how could they get access to the latest technologies and have a say in the developement of future technologies otherwise? Being a member of JEDEC and actually caring about their specs when designing a product are two totally different things though.

[vazel]

RAM manufacturers did never care a lot about JEDEC specs, there were sticks featuring D9GMH/GKX that were rated for 2.5V, though it was never specced by JEDEC. These LV Blades will degrade very fast at more than 2.0V, they already get warm at 1.9V. This is not your typical DDR2 memory, forget about JEDEC. Please understand, I don't want to sound rude, but what you're doing is very dangerous for your memory.

RAM manufacturers did never care a lot about JEDEC specs, there were sticks featuring D9GMH/GKX that were rated for 2.5V, though it was never specced by JEDEC.

Just because manufactures make ram outside of spec does not mean they don't care. You are grossly underestimating the role JEDEC serves for compatibility. There has always been memory made outside of JEDEC spec to cater to enthusiasts since the ddr1 days.

And yea my bad about ddr2-1066.

[Don_Dan]

Where did the rest of your post go? So did you find JESD208 now?

Sure, this is what I mean. I'm not underestimating JEDEC as a factor defining standards that are needed for stable operation of memory modules, but you can't tell people that every RAM has to be able to withstand 2.3V without problems, cause I'm pretty sure this RAM will get very hot doing so and thus run very unstable. Have a look at my first or second post in this thread, my kit was able to run 533MHz CL5 ( stock settings in fact ) at 1.65V. This has never been specced by JEDEC as well.
I just don't want to get people to kill their memory because they think it's safe using high voltages on this kit.

[BeepBeep2]

Taken from JESD79-2:




79-2 shows 800 as the highest standardized, I haven't seen JESD208 yet.

Max voltage IS 2.3v but look what I highlighted...

EDIT DDR2-1066:

[Don_Dan]

I'm not saying it can't be done, D9 won't die from 3.0V instantly as well.
Did you ever hear of Electromigration? If not, check it.

Edit: There we go.

[vazel]

I was never planning at running 2.2v for an extended period. Ok getting back to my problem. Changing PSUs didn't help but changing ram slots did. So far. Will have to continue gaming for a week to know for sure. Reason I don't just run a stability test is because this doesn't show in a stability test. I've passed prime95 for 24hrs, Linx for 20 passes and memtest and then during regular gaming/desktop it'll crash anyway.

[WrigleyVillain]

LOL I accidentally ordered 3 sets from Amazon instead of just one. Already got a refund auth for two of them but guess what I'm thinking...just not sure if I can safely open them without voiding any returns.

[LennyRhys]

These OCZ blister packs tend to split and crack very easily. I'd say it'd be safer just to open the one.

[SpuTnicK]

LOL I accidentally ordered 3 sets from Amazon instead of just one. Already got a refund auth for two of them but guess what I'm thinking...just not sure if I can safely open them without voiding any returns.

So how far do they go? any luck with 1100MHz and over at 5-5-5-15?

[WrigleyVillain]

So how far do they go? any luck with 1100MHz and over at 5-5-5-15?

They get here Thursday. Just read this whole thread and I was already kicking myself (while scratching my head) as I somehow missed these when they were released and cheap and plentiful. Now I read I could have gotten this Plat kit (with black PCB too) for $43 from Amazon early last summer.

Sonofab1tch.

[WrigleyVillain]

Ok they are here, a day early. Good old Amazon. One set of the 3 doesn't have a black pcb or otherwise scream "pick me!!!" so I'm going to open the one that actually has the labels placed on non-crookedly

EDIT:

Well so far the good news is that the packs open really easily (which when it comes to blister packs is welcome in general). The bad news so far is I am having trouble with them at low voltage, so far even rated 1066 at 1.95v. Memtest chokes right away. My board does undervolt RAM .05 (according to BIOS anyway) but I am accounting for that. Though not about these specific sticks, according to this post at Clunk's my board should be able to do it, in fact one guy is running 8GB of OCZ Flex LV near 1200 1.85v. Before I changed from 333 strap to 400/800 and manually loosened tRFC and PL I couldn't even POST. My Dominators for example will fire right up at stock clocks which is 333/800 strap at 1.85v but these won't. Tried more than one kit and a single stick too.

Going to try a different BIOS or two next. Any other suggestions appreciated!

[Kelainefes]

Though not about these specific sticks, according to this post at Clunk's my board should be able to do it, in fact one guy is running 8GB of OCZ Flex LV near 1200 1.85v.

Hello Villain, stalked you here from the linkback. :p
Just to be accurate, I don't have Flex LV, I have 4 sticks of PC8500 Platinum LV, exactly the ones you have, and your same board too!
That's why I am extremely surprised that you're having all this problems.

[WrigleyVillain]

Haha I havent given up yet!

[LennyRhys]

When I got my 1150 blades they were straight in at 1.8v...any sign of instability and I was getting my money back pronto. Fortunately for OCZ they were stable at 1.79v actual.

If LV modules aren't working with rated volts (EVP is 1.85) I'd argue they aren't what they claim to be. Something is definitely wrong if you can't get 1066 stable, considering it's now a standardized frequency and in practice should be "plug and play."

[BeepBeep2]

Well, my Plat's worked quite nice and top out at around 1230 benchable @ 1.9...
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/3029/15350.png


They dont do more than 1190 @ 1.8v

[gvguy39]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is the advantage of the LV version of the OCZ platinum verses the higher voltage ones? I understand the less heat generated, somewhat. The reason I'm very interested I have the Gigabyte MA790X-UD4P and will be upgrading my cpu from an AM2 5600+ to the 965BE c3 and I'm wanting to get the best memory I can get for this board and cpu combo. Also, would there be limitations to running two kits for a total of 8GB's? Sidenote, BeepBeep2, where did u get that wallpaper of the Dragon? I WANT IT! Thanks, in advance, for any responses.

[Bredband71]

Hi!

I have OCZ PC2-9200 (1150Mhz) Low Voltage Blade Series. and i wonder what is max. safe volt for 24/7.
Is 1.85v max or can i have 1.9v?
1.85v don´t work when i try 1200Mhz.

//Tommy

[Spcial]

here are some results from germany on an amd platform (phenom II x4 965 be + dfi lp dk 790fxb-m2rs + 2x2 gb ocz lv blade 1150):

superpi 32m stable!

504 MHz | 4-4-3-5 15 2t | 1.88v | Screen

604 MHz | 5-5-4-5 20 2t | 1.80v | Screen

629 MHz | 5-5-5-15 11 2t | 1.80v | Screen

[BeepBeep2]

Holy thread necro.
Extremely nice sticks. My LV Platinum 1150 only did 1180 5-5-5 realistically, and barely did 1000+ 5-4-4-10.

[Spcial]

Holy thread necro.

thx! i know and i am sorry! i didn't want to open a new topic but i also want to share these results.

does anybody think that this sticks will run good with foxconn a79a-s and phenom II x6?

[zsamz_]

thx! i know and i am sorry! i didn't want to open a new topic but i also want to share these results.

does anybody think that this sticks will run good with foxconn a79a-s and phenom II x6?

no

thats ddr2
you need ddr3